초록 ▼

An electric traction vehicle is described herein which may be used to provide power to off-board electric power-consuming systems or devices. The electric traction vehicle may provide 250 kilowatts or more of three phase AC power to an off-board electric power consuming system. The electric traction

An electric traction vehicle is described herein which may be used to provide power to off-board electric power-consuming systems or devices. The electric traction vehicle may provide 250 kilowatts or more of three phase AC power to an off-board electric power consuming system. The electric traction vehicle may also include an electrical power storage device which can be selectively discharged to allow the vehicle to be serviced.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An electric traction vehicle comprising: a vehicle platform; a plurality of drive wheels coupled to the vehicle platform; a plurality of electric motors coupled to respective ones of the plurality of drive wheels, the plurality of electric motors being used to drive the plura

What is claimed is: 1. An electric traction vehicle comprising: a vehicle platform; a plurality of drive wheels coupled to the vehicle platform; a plurality of electric motors coupled to respective ones of the plurality of drive wheels, the plurality of electric motors being used to drive the plurality of drive wheels; an electrical connector which is configured to be used to allow an electrical power-consuming system off-board the vehicle to be connected to the vehicle and draw electrical power from the vehicle when a power consumption for the plurality of electric motors is substantially zero; a power storage unit; a power source coupled to the vehicle platform, the power source being used to provide electrical power to the plurality of electric motors and the electrical connector, the power source being configured to supply power to the electrical power-consuming system off-board the vehicle which are not specifically designed to be supplied power from the power source; a communication network interconnecting a plurality of drive controllers associated with respective one of the plurality of the electric motors; and microprocessor-based interface modules coupled to each other by way of the communication network; each one of the microprocessor-based interface modules being configured to store I/O information for input and output devices coupled to the other microprocessor-based interface modules, wherein the microprocessor-based interface modules are configured to control via the communication network an energy supply from the power storage unit; wherein the vehicle is configured to provide at least about 250 kilowatts of power to the off-board power-consuming system. 2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the communication network is configured to transmit data related to the electric power-consuming system off-board the vehicle. 3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the electric power-consuming system off-board the vehicle is an airport. 4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the electric power-consuming system off-board the vehicle is scene lighting. 5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the power source provides three phase AC power to the plurality of electric motors and the electrical connector. 6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electric motors are induction motors. 7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the power source provides at least about 750 kilowatts of power to the electrical connector. 8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a hybrid electric vehicle and the power source comprises a diesel engine coupled to an electric generator. 9. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the power source comprises a fuel cell coupled to an inverter, the inverter being used to convert DC power from the fuel cell to AC power for the plurality of electric motors and the electrical connector. 10. An electric traction vehicle comprising: a vehicle platform; a plurality of drive wheels coupled to the vehicle platform; a plurality of electric motors coupled to respective ones of the plurality of drive wheels, the plurality of electric motors being used to drive the plurality of drive wheels; a communication network; wherein a plurality of microprocessor-based interface modules coupled to each other by way of the communication network, each of the plurality of microprocessor-based interface modules being configured to store I/O information for input and output devices coupled to the remaining microprocessor-based interface modules, the plurality of microprocessor-based interface modules also being coupled to the plurality of electric motors and being configured to process input information received by way of the communication network to control the plurality of electric motors; an electrical connector which is configured to be used to allow an electrical power-consuming system off-board the vehicle to be connected to the vehicle and draw AC power from the vehicle when a power consumption for the plurality of electric motors is substantially zero via a DC power to AC power converter; a power storage unit; a power source coupled to the vehicle platform, the power source being used to provide AC power to the plurality of electric motors and the electrical connector, the power source being configured to supply power to the electrical power-consuming system off-board the vehicle which are not specifically designed to be supplied power from the power source; wherein the communication network interconnecting a plurality of drive controllers associated with respective one of the plurality of the electric motors; wherein the microprocessor-based interface modules are configured to control via the communication network an energy supply from the power storage unit; wherein the power source provides AC power to the plurality of electric motors by way of an AC bus assembly; wherein the power source provides three phase AC power to the plurality of electric motors and the electrical connector; and wherein the communication network is configured to transmit data related to the electric power-consuming system off-board the vehicle. 11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the power source comprises a fuel cell coupled to an inverter, the inverter being used to convert DC power from the fuel cell to AC power for the plurality of electric motors and the electrical connector. 12. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the electrical power-consuming system off-board the vehicle is an airport. 13. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the electrical power-consuming system off-board the vehicle is scene lighting. 14. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the power storage unit being configured to receive energy generated by one or more of the plurality of electric motors when one or more of the plurality of electrical motors is in regeneration mode. 15. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the plurality of electrical motors are traction motors. 16. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the power source provides at least about 250 kilowatts of AC power to the electrical connector. 17. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the power source provides at least about 750 kilowatts of AC power to the electrical connector. 18. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the vehicle is a hybrid electric vehicle and the power source comprises a diesel engine coupled to an electric generator. 19. An electric traction vehicle comprising: a vehicle platform; a communication network; wherein a plurality of microprocessor-based interface modules coupled to each other by way of the communication network, each of the plurality of microprocessor-based interface modules being configured to store I/O information for input and output devices coupled to the remaining microprocessor-based interface modules, the plurality of microprocessor-based interface modules also being coupled to the plurality of electric motors and being configured to process input information received by way of the communication network to control the plurality of electric motors; a plurality of drive wheels coupled to the vehicle platform; a plurality of electric motors coupled to respective ones of the plurality of drive wheels, the plurality of electric motors being used to drive the plurality of drive wheels; an electrical connector which is used to allow an electrical power-consuming system off-board the vehicle to be connected to the vehicle and draw AC power from the vehicle; a power storage unit; and a power source coupled to the vehicle platform, the power source being used to provide AC power to the plurality of electric motors and the electrical connector; wherein the power source provides AC power to the plurality of electric motors by way of an AC bus assembly; wherein the power source provides three phase AC power to the plurality of electric motors and the electrical connector; wherein the electrical power-consuming system off-board the vehicle is not specifically designed to be supplied power from the vehicle; wherein the communication network is configured to transmit data related to the electric power-consuming system off-board the vehicle; and wherein the vehicle is configured to provide at least about 250 kilowatts of power to the off-board power-consuming system. 20. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein the power source comprises a fuel cell coupled to an inverter, the inverter being used to convert DC power from the fuel cell to AC power for the plurality of electric motors and the electrical connector. 21. An electric traction vehicle comprising: a vehicle platform; a communication network; a plurality of drive wheels coupled to the vehicle platform; a plurality of electric motors coupled to respective ones of the plurality of drive wheels, the plurality of electric motors being used to drive the plurality of drive wheels; an AC bus assembly which provides AC power to the plurality of electric motors; an electrical energy storage device which is configured to provide power to the plurality of electric motors using the AC bus assembly; an electrical connector configured to be used to allow an electrical power-consuming system off-board the vehicle to be connected to the vehicle and draw AC power from the vehicle; and a power source configured to provide power to the plurality of electric motors using the AC bus assembly, the power source also being configured to provide power to the electrical energy storage device; microprocessor-based interface modules coupled to each other by way of the communication network; each one of the microprocessor-based interface modules being configured to store I/O information for input and output devices coupled to the other microprocessor-based interface modules, wherein the microprocessor-based interface modules are configured to control via the communication network an energy supply from the electrical energy storage device; wherein the electrical energy storage device is configured to be discharged using an energy dissipation device other than the plurality of electric motors, the energy dissipation device being coupled to the AC bus assembly; wherein the communication network is configured to transmit data related to the electric power-consuming system off-board the vehicle; and wherein the electrical power-consuming system off-board the vehicle is not specifically designed to be supplied power from the vehicle. 22. The vehicle of claim 21, comprising a user input device which is used to selectively discharge the electrical energy storage device using the energy dissipation device and wherein the electrical power-consuming system off-board the vehicle is an airport. 23. The vehicle of claim 21, wherein the electrical power-consuming system off-board the vehicle is scene lighting and wherein the power source includes a diesel engine coupled to an electric generator which is used to provide power to the electrical energy storage device. 24. The vehicle of claim 21 wherein the energy dissipation device includes an engine fan. 25. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein the vehicle is a hybrid electric vehicle and the power source comprises a diesel engine coupled to an electric generator. 26. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein the electrical power-consuming system off-board the vehicle is an airport. 27. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein the electrical power-consuming system off-board the vehicle is scene lighting. 28. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein the power source provides at least 750 kilowatts of AC power to the electrical connector.